Archive for October, 2007
Monday, October 29th, 2007
One of the Nigerian leading Pop stars, D’ Banj and an American based Nigerian artiste - J. J Bunny have joined the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
This is part of the on-going world - wide campaign to sustain the battle against HIV/AIDS epidemics in the World. The pop stars would be using an end of year concert tour as a platform to broaden this awareness.
Mr. Nosa Ajayi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Itratainment IQ (iTiQ), who made this known at a press briefing held recently in Ikeja, Lagos, said, “this is the formal launching of the AIDS awareness concert slated for the month of December, 2007″.
While recognising the fact that sub - Saharan Africa is at serious risk with the epidemics, and Nigeria being among the five countries with the highest incident.
” iTiQ has concluded efforts to make this a yearly event. Not just in Nigeria, but also in other African countries, with a bias for the countries with the highest incident” he said.
He further added that, the stars would be donating ten per cent of their earnings to establish centres for the rehabilitation of children orphaned by the epidemic, in each city visited.
However, he maintained that, J. J. Bunny and D’Banj would be using their popularity to reach out to their fans; young men and women, who are most susceptible to this deadly disease, by awakening their consciousness.
Via Leadership
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Monday, October 29th, 2007
After a long absence, Shanti-Lo was back in the swing of things at the Satchmo’s Jazz Cafe on Friday night.
But his show nearly failed to live up to expectations may be due to the chilly weather that night. Even the club itself was not so crowded, as it is usually the case on Friday nights.
Revellers only started trickling in after midnight. Shanti-Lo did not captivate the crowd like he did at the same club at the end of 2005. This time the stage was not set for the big show.
He only started performing at 1:00 am and was joined on the stage by women of the song, Nono and Nnunu. But during the first set, Shanti-Lo was not at his best and was even seen shouting at some people to get out of his view. Even the sound system was not up to scratch. Dressed in a black suit, he just did not seem to be in the mood to perform.
It did not come as a surprise that after only a few songs, he went for a break.
Shanti-Lo and his band came back to the stage after about an hour. But this time, Shanti-Lo was in his element. He attracted revellers to the stage as he did his favourite songs Boloi and Tshiwele. Nnunu delighted the revellers with her dancing as they did some of the tracks.
When in his element, Shanti-Lo is in his own league. As compared to his peers, Shanti-Lo is far much advanced when it comes to music. He is unlike many young musicians not into kwaito. He is into township jazz and he is following in the footsteps of the likes of South Africa songbird, Miriam Makeba.
During the Friday show, he continued to belt out tracks from his album and also sang cover songs.
Shanti-Lo went for another break at 3:00 am which makes people to wonder when do promoters want revellers to sleep. Why is it that the shows do not start early?
Last time promoter Steve Raman sent away jazz sensation Puna Gabasiane from one of his nightclubs because she came at 12:15 am. So why should a show start at 1:00 am this time around. Shanti-Lo and members of his band had been waiting at the club for more than two hours.
Earlier on, Jazz Impromptu warmed up the stage for Shanti-Lo. Jazz Impromptu, which performed at the same venue last weekend, is also his backing group. Some of the members of Jazz Impromptu include veteran guitarist Zakes Gwaze and Rampholo “Chamza’” Molefhe on keyboards. The only disappointment about this group is that they do not have their own compositions despite the fact that they are among the music ‘madala’ who should be showing the youngsters how it is done.
Since the beginning of this year, Satchmo’s club has not been hosting many live bands. The club has only started to do live shows and one of the artistes who is expected to perform there is Gabasiane.
It was only last year that the club staged a number of live shows featuring local and South African artistes. One of the prominent artistes who featured at the club is Lister Boleseng and also the Norway-based Banjo Mosele performed at the Gaborone West joint. South African acts included Sipho “Hot Stix” Mabuse and legendary guitarist Louis Mhlanga.
The management of the club is working on a line-up for the festive season.
Via Mmegi
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Sunday, October 28th, 2007
THOUSANDS of fans of South Africa’s internationally acclaimed reggae star Lucky Dube paid their final respects at a funeral service today and mourned his murder.
The service in the central KwaZulu-Natal province was attended by Rastafarians and other fans from as far afield as Rwanda, Liberia and the United States, reported the public broadcaster SABC.
The funeral procession was led by white-clad members of Dube’s African Christian Shembe faith, in accordance with which his body is to be covered in cow skin for burial in a private family ceremony.
Dube, 43, was gunned down in an apparent botched hijacking last Thursday night in front of his two children.
Tributes have been streaming in, describing the artist as an immortal legend of African music.
Dube, who recorded in Zulu, English and Afrikaans, was one of the first to play reggae in his homeland and was widely admired abroad.
His killing has provoked widespread condemnation world-wide and renewed domestic calls for the restoration of the death penalty in a bid to stem one of the world’s highest murder rates.
Via news.com.au
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Sunday, October 28th, 2007
The funeral for murdered South African reggae star Lucky Dube is being held at his farm near the town of Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal province.
A spokesman for the singer’s family has confirmed the funeral is open to the public but that his burial is for close friends and family only.
The singer was shot dead on 18 October in Johannesburg in what police called a botched car-jacking attempt.
A memorial service in Johannesburg on Wednesday was packed with mourners.
Crime wave
As well as his family, representatives of his church and friends from across Africa, Britain and the United States are attending the funeral.
Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade has sent the family a message of condolence as has British pop star Peter Gabriel.
Gabriel paid tribute to the “extraordinary” talent of Dube, who sold millions of albums around the world in a career that spanned two decades.
Lucky Dube was one of South Africa’s most loved and respected stars who often spoke out against crime.
South Africa’s crime wave cost an estimated 20,000 lives in the past year.
Police have arrested five men in connection with the killing.
Via BBC
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Saturday, October 27th, 2007
IF YOU happen to be a part of the audience at Blue Africa Bar on Crested Towers this Sunday evening, you will be treated to traditional performances from assorted Rwandan artistes.
The event is Kinyarwanda Nite and performers include some of the biggest names in the Rwandan music landscape like Mako Nikoshwa and Sandra Karigirwa - who are also nominees in this year’s PAM Awards for Best Female and Male Artiste from Rwanda respectively - the Ingyezi Cultural group and Omucho Traditional dancers.
Rwandan traditional songs are often accompanied by a solitary Lulunga, a harp-like traditional instrument with eight strings.
The Intore Cultural group were the performers at the last Kinyarwanda Nite. But, according to Mako Nikoshwa, this night will be spiced up with selected Ugandan singers like Rocky Giant and Halima Namakula, who sang a duet with Nikoshwa. Rocky Giant.
[Via New Vision]
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Saturday, October 27th, 2007
THE maestro of Gospel-reggae, Kirwana McAfrica has released another hot album to boost his evangelistic ministry.
The eight-track album, Lwana is done in various contemporary styles. The songs are not only spiced with beautiful groovy beats, but also laden with spiritual messages, rooted in scripture.
The title-track Lwana (fight on), done in the Afro-beat style, carries the listener into jubilant worship. It encourages people to keep their trust in God during times of trial.
Kkiriza (believe) is an appeal to the youth to observe the Christian way of dating. No doubt the song will be liked by the youth, because of its enchanting reggae roots flavour.
Kirwana also warns Christians against the dangers of passionate love, in his song Omutima, which is spiced with soccer beats.
Entabagana is an enchanting reggae song, which expounds Jesus’ unconditional love.
Kirwana also projects his patriotism in God Bless Uganda.
The Zouk song Talwaawo talks about the providence of Jesus, towards those that trust in Him.
The other tracks are the Emirimo Gyo (Psalm 44) and the Afro-beat track Akumanyi (Joel 2:25).
Lwana was recorded at Dream Studios, Kamwokya. Copies of it are available at Christian Living Water Church, Najjanankumbi.
[Via New Vision]
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Saturday, October 27th, 2007
It has been seven years since Frank Lesokwane surrendered his gun and pair of boots and picked up his guitar to make music for the nation. He is now a famed rumba artiste known as Franco.
Franco was later joined by cousin Fresh Lesokwane, though as a competitor. But he would not be the last from the Lesokwane family in Gabane to venture into rumba music.
As he worked on his seventh album, Franco decided to rope in his nephew Innocent “Bokhina” Lesokwane. And if first impressions are anything to go by, then the youngster is also on the way to the top. His uncle has already tipped him to become a star and even surpass his own (Franco) success. Bokhina stole the limelight from his uncle during the launch of Sepekere, Franco’s latest project. The fans, who thronged Chez Ntemba for the launch, seemed to enjoy it most every time the youngster took his mike. They even suggested a competition pitting uncle against nephew and the older Lesokwane was voted out. He has good voice, but above all his big smile makes him a favourite with the fans, especially women.
“Bokhina is passionate about music, he is a reserved person but once he starts singing, it is a different story all together because suddenly he becomes energetic. I believe he has a long way to go,” Franco said of the 21-year -old.
The young man had this to say about his music ambitions: “It all started at school, I think I was doing my Form Two when we started singing and dancing especially after school. But I quickly realised that I was more comfortable with rumba than anything else. I could not do much until recently when uncle Franco called me to join his band ,” Bokhina said.
Bokhina forms part of Afro Musica, Franco’s backing band, but he should be going solo in a few years’ time, according to Franco.
“I do not want to rush him because this industry can be rough and you need to be prepared before you cut your teeth. He has to learn a lot of things, both on and off the stage. The fans love his style and is always cheered on when we perform but it does not end there, I will give him his break when I feel he is ready for such a challenge,” he said.
Franco himself had a gradual but steady rise to the top, having played with the pioneer of rumba music in Botswana Alfred Mosimanegape before going solo. He also had a short stint with Nata Capricon.
“Talent alone is not enough to see him to the top, you need to work with experienced people and gain that experience yourself before you can go solo,” he said.
The young Lesokwane says he is enjoying every moment of it and is not in a hurry to see himself on the CD covers. “Just to be working with such a big star like Franco should make someone feel important.
I know the crowds who cheer me at festivals had not necessarily come to see me because some do not even know that I am the one who sings in those songs,” he said.
[Via Mmegi]
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Saturday, October 27th, 2007
Rising Motswana Afro-pop musician Lizibo Glenn Simon has shot the video of his Ndebele song Uzamthola ngaphi in Bulawayo, together with his Zimbabwean counterpart Clint Cornish.
The collaboration is the first step in what Simon hopes would grow into a bigger and stronger relationship between them. The two artistes, who met in Bulawayo last week, are also working on a duet and are set to release a single by December.
A Bulawayo-based music production firm, Mo-hits Records, led by Itai Majaji brokered the deal between Simon and Cornish.
Simon, who has a Zimbabwean grandmother, said in Cornish, he has found a colleague who has an interest in cultural music like him.
“Cornish has a great love for cultural music, which applies to me as well,” said Lazy-boy, as the Gaborone-based star is also known.
“I listened to his music and immediately felt a strong connection with him.”
A former choral conductor at Marulamantsi High in Gaborone and Rainbow Primary School, Simon stressed the role that music can play in uniting the people of Zimbabwe and Botswana.
“Zimbabwe and Botswana are one,” said the Maru -a- pula-born performer.
“Music can bind our two nations together. In this relationship between I and Cornish, we want to spread love through music.” He said he has a strong passion for Afro-pop.
Cornish, said Simon, will reciprocate his visit by also visiting Gaborone next month. Majaji, who has worked with Cornish for more than two years was happy about the new relationship that he seeks to build between the two artistes.
He said it has always been his wish to work with artistes of different nationalities and cultures.
“Our relationship with him (Simon) has surpassed the business level. We have already become some kind of a family, a short time after this relationship started. The relationship has a potential to grow,” said Majaji.
The message behind Simon’s two-song single revolves around love. In the title track Uzomthola Ngaphi (O tla mmona ko kae) he urges men to treat women with respect. The other song O bore-ledi, is about the tender-heartedness of women.
[Via Mmegi ]
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Saturday, October 27th, 2007
New kid on the traditional music block, Shumba Ratshega, will stage his first show in Mmadinare since releasing his debut album Makhirikhiri, which has proved to be a hit. Dan Tshanda’s stable, Splash, will also be in Phikwe for their annual show, featuring Dalom Kids, Splash, Peacock, Patricia Majalisa, Don B, and Matshikos.
Mmadinare and Phikwe revellers will be spoilt for choice, as both shows will be held simultaneously tomorrow.
The traditional Splash show usually attracts hordes of disco music lovers even from as far afield as Francistown.
Splash has staged successful shows in Selebi-Phikwe after a 2003 concert ended in crowd violence that claimed two lives.
The group responded by cancelling the March show but returned the following November amid outcries from council authorities and the public, fearing a recurrence.
However, Tshanda promised tight security and moved the show from the Town Hall to a more spacious arena, Area One, the venue of this weekend’s show.
After the violent 2003 show, Tshanda distanced himself from hooligans who normally follow his shows. He promised that rogue elements that spoil his shows would be flushed out.
The stable has since held subsequent shows at Area One that have largely been incident-free.
Already, the weekend show is the most talked about despite a hike in fee. In the past Tshanda’s music lovers in Phikwe had to part with P40 but this time it has been raised to P50.
A number of Tshanda’s artists have released new albums since their last show and their fans are eager to sample some of the tracks.
Shumba Ratshega will team up with Gong Master, another traditional music artist. Ashley Gops, who plays a combination of disco and afro-pop sounds and Xtra Melody, will also perform at this weekend’s show.
However, the four groups will be wary of the counter attraction the Splash show poses as it will be staged hardly 15km away.
To their quartet’s advantage is the relatively lower admission fee charge of P30 for their show at Mmadinare Community Hall.
The local musicians have an opportunity to prove that local music has come of age and has the pulling power.
[Via Mmegi]
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Saturday, October 27th, 2007
He has been watching the local kwaito scene with keen interest and hopes he has learnt enough to make a positive change, making it sound more Tswana than South African.
Cibo is yet to release his first solo project but already he believes he has what it takes to change the face of kwaito. “A lot of our artistes have this tendency of using Zulu lyrics in their music, it has worked for them in a way but we should be proud as Batswana and use our own languages.
At times people who listen to their music end up thinking it is a South African artiste and as you know a lot of Batswana these days prefer to buy local music than anything,” Cibo said.
Born Basimanebotlhe Tselaesele, 24 years ago, Cibo liked music and dreamt of becoming a star. In 1999, he formed a kwaito outfit called Two Man Crew. The duo released an album called Re mazwaki, which was a total flop. A follow-up also failed to put them on the map and they disbanded.
“I believe that time was not just right for us because we were still schooling, I went to Zimbabwe and the album was not marketed because in the first place we would not be able to perform at shows if I was staying so far away,” he said.
Things worsened for him when he completed his studies and returned home hoping to revive his career. In 2005, he won the World of Music Talent expo in Francistown and was promised a recording contract at Victor Lumu’s company. But things did not work out and he decided to move on. “The talent expo was sponsored by the Department of Culture and Youth and we were told from the beginning that those who win will get recording contracts and when I won the kwaito category I thought my dream was finally coming true, but nothing came of it,” he said.
The criminal justice student at the University of Botswana (UB) told Showbiz that he was finally relieved to have recorded his solo project, a single called Dinambanamba which is due to hit the shelves in the near future.
Though it would be an exaggeration to say the single will top the charts, it will certainly announce the youngster’s second coming in a big way and make competitors and fans take serious note. Though he is currently working with Mad Dogs, a kwaito-kwasa outfit based in Kanye, Cibo is adamant that he will stick to the original kwaito style popularly called S’gubu.
“I like the Mapetla type of kwaito and even in the project that I did as part of the Two Man Crew, was S’gubu,” he said.
Kabelo Mabalane, who has changed his stage name to Bouga Love, is Cibo’s top man but he has vowed never to imitate him or even try to bring him down.
“I believe I can learn a few things from listening to his songs. The same applies to Mapetla and Skazzo, those guys are really good but I am ready to take them head-on and give them a good run for their money,” he said confidently.
Cibo is not the first kwaito artiste from Kanye, others have come and gone like Colosa of Mogoditshane Route 7. When he first burst onto the scene he was tipped to replace Vee as the country’s youngest kwaito dynamite but only God knows what happened.
“I am well aware of the challenges lying ahead and to me the most important thing is to stick to the basics. I am not going to imitate anyone either,” he said.
[Via Mmegi]
